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31 January 2019

I'm always amazed to see dog food companies offer up fish options. It's not only for cats you know? Fish in a dogs diet provides many benefits including being extremely high in protein and omega-3s. For the most part, fish is high in protein but a dog cannot get all of their nutritional needs through fish alone, which I was delighted when I saw that Halo came out with a blend of Salmon and Venison wet dog food.

Salmon has many benefits in a dogs diet. It is a fatty fish which is also a good source of omega- 3 fatty acids. These fats support the immune system and can be beneficial for skin and coat health. There has also been some indication that they may benefit dogs with allergies.

While venison, or deer meat, has less protein than beef, it also contains less fat and cholesterol, making it an increasingly popular meat source in commercial dog foods. Venison is a good source of B vitamins and minerals such as zinc, phosphorous, and iron. It helps dogs maintain healthy energy levels and many dogs enjoy the taste.

This pet food is jam-packed with nutrients and is contains non-GMO fruits and vegetables. I am at ease feeding them this because I know that they are getting a balanced nutritious meal, and they think of it as a treat.

Normally I feed my dogs dry kibble, but I do entice their taste buds with wet dog food from time to time. My dogs love this stuff so much they actually start doing tricks once I peel back the top of the can. That makes us all happy! I'm also delighted in knowing that the recipe is specially formulated for smaller sized breeds for a healthy weight point calorically. Since my dogs are seniors now and have had pancreatitis scares, I do monitor what they eat quite often. This, once again, gives me peace of mind.

Another key benefit from this food is that the texture provides additional hydration which is important when your pups live in Arizona. Sometimes my girls won't drink a lot of their water, but they are always hungry, so I add water or supplement wet dog food to make sure they stay hydrated.

Disclaimers:

Yes, I sometimes spoon feed my dogs their meals with a pink spoon. Are you surprised?

I received these goodies free of charge from Chewy.com in an exchange for my honest review.

30 January 2019

If you've been following us for a while you know we love the Merrick brand. Six years ago we were introduced to their Power to the Paw line of yummy and healthier food options. Now, back then not too many people were really focused on quality and transparent food items for their fur kids. You can find the review of this pawsome company here. Coming at you this month from Merrick is their Fresh Kisses Double-Brush Coconut Oil & Botanicals Extra Small Grain-Free Dental Dog Treats. Now I have been personally using coconut oil for years to do oil pulling, removing makeup and cooking with it. It really is a super product. I also used to use coconut oil on Bebe and Jolie's paws in the cold winters in NJ to prevent them from cracking. I was delighted to see that this dog treat came in a plethora of different sizes as well as contained coconut oils and botanicals!I obviously picked up the extra small size for my extra small dogs, and I was not disappointed. Even though my dogs are missing some teeth they didn't shy away from chewing these small treats. Each treat has a double brush action design and it's natural ingredients help keep teeth clean, fight that nasty plaque and tartar and freshen their breath. What better name to call a product than Fresh Kisses? Those kisses will be infused with a mixture of coconut, peppermint, lemongrass, and rosemary oils. You can keep the chew game strong knowing that these treats are cooked in the USA without any grains, gluten, corn, soy, or artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

Disclaimers:

I almost lost a finger during the process of this photo shoot.

I have slobber all over my face, but it's botanically fresh slobber.

I received these goodies free of charge from Chewy.com in an exchange for my honest review.

27 December 2018

This month (and several times during each month) I stock up on treats for my girls, Bebe and Jolie. I stock up on a different type of treat every month for their chewing, trick performing, and bad breath occurrences. However, one treat that I keep on reaching for time and time again is the Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Tender Beef Recipe Soft-Moist Training Dog Treats. There are a few reasons for this:

They are chewy and moist, perfect for any dog and especially toothless senior ones like mine!

They are good for your pup!

Formulated with omega-3 and 6 fatty acids for skin and coat health.

No artificial preservatives, colors or flavors.

Made in the USA with zero chicken or poultry by-product meals, wheat, soy, corn, or artificial preservatives, colors or flavors.

So this month when Chewy.com offered it in their influencer option I was delighted to snag a bag, as I am already a fan of these yummy treats. You know the saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" well, that's simply not true! I'm going to share some different ways you can entertain your dog with treats! And also, my oldest was about 7 years old when I taught her how to *sneeze* and *speak*, proof that you can indeed teach an old dog new tricks!

Pick up an interactive dog training toy

I picked up this cute and small dog toy at T.J.Maxx for just under $4. It's a small wooden plaque with little pieces that look like chess pieces. They have holes in them so that the treat scent will be available for your pets to know there's goodness hiding underneath. You hide the treats under each little piece and allow your pet to either lift up the piece with their mouth or knock them over with their snouts. Either way it causes them to work for their treats and figure out how to get the treat out. When I first got this toy, my dogs had no idea how to get to the treat, they would just stare at it and bark. Now they enjoy playing with it and grabbing the treats from underneath. If you want to DIY you can use mini/regular sized cupcake pans and place the treats under some tennis balls. Your dog will have to lift the ball to get the treat. If you don't have all that lying around, you can find some interactive toys here.

Scent games

As a fur momma of two senior pups, I have noticed that my dogs are not as sharp as they once were. Many dogs, as they age, lose some visual acuity and their hearing dims but thankfully, their ability to smell remains strong. Using that sense of smell to play scenting games is something that dogs can do long into old age. Take your treats and hide them around the house, my dogs know what the words, bathtub, door, bed, and sofa mean. Exercise their minds and tell them to go look for a treat by the bed, or the door. It's really quite fun watching them search for the treat.

Crinkly bag of treats in your pocket

Whether I'm at a dog park or at a friends house for a doggie play date, I always like to keep a crinkly bag alongside me filled with treats. As you may know, dogs get very excited over the sound of treat bags, bags of chips, or plastic. When I expose my dogs to a social situation I like reminding them that I've got the goods and make a sound from my pocket. I will proceed to ask them to sit, stay, or be a good girl if they get too rowdy. This works 90% of the time, teaches them discipline, and they are being rewarded for good behavior!

Sneaky exercise

Dogs, just like humans need exercise. It's good for them to get up and out and stretch their legs. It keeps them healthy, happy and helps with food digestion. I live in an apartment and so there isn't too much room to do this with my pets. Luckily my dogs are small and so not too much is needed to get them tired. Take your treats and place them in places where they can see. Top of the stairs, top of the bed, under the table, and scream GO! Run alongside your dog to help her see where the treat is and do it fast, like a human and dog agility course. Careful how quick you do it, I've knocked over some vases, and broken a few things while doing this. I wasn't' terribly upset because my dogs love this game!

DIY Dog Ice Cream

I don't know where you live in the world, but we live in Arizona. It gets pretty hot here. Take some of your treats and fill up an ice cube tray with yummy fluids filled with electrolytes or vitamins. I personally love this one, putting a treat inside the ice cube keeps them busy for hours, and hydrated! They won't even know that playtime is good for them!

The most important thing is to treat your dogs with love and shower them with affection and attention. They are around for such a short while, spend time with them when you can, rewards them for good behavior and feed them the best treats while doing so!

I received these goodies free of charge from Chewy.com in an exchange for my honest review.